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Connections between Migration and Development

Discussion Paper by Professor Dr Jochen Oltmer

Every 122nd person in the world is a refugee, an internally displaced person or an asylum seeker. On behalf of terre des hommes and Welthungerhilfe, Professor Dr Jochen Oltmer has conducted a study about the connections between migration and development.

There are about 60 million refugees in the world today – more than ever before. They include refugees, internally displaced persons and asylum seekers. There are also more young people fleeing their homelands than ever before: Around half of the world’s refugees are younger than 18.

But what has sent shock waves through Europe more than anything is the recent spate of deaths of people attempting to flee across the Mediterranean – thousands of people, young and old, are drowning on Europe’s very doorstep in search of a safer future. This raises many questions about how Europe, in view of its values and its economic and social opportunities, can, should and must act. It also raises questions about the possibilities and limitations of development policy with regard to flight and migration.

The present study represents the second publication in the series “On the future of global relations” which we launched last year. The study aims to contribute to this important current debate on the relationship between development policy and (forced) migration. We are aware that this publication may trigger controversial reactions. It often seems that the debate is currently carried out in an emotional, interest-led manner, with a tendency to focus on the short-term; in view of this, the following study aims to take a more objective look at the connection between migration and development.